A TEENAGE girl was in a critical condition in hospital last night after a car mounted a pavement in Bromley Cross and hit a group of friends.

Devon Foster, aged 15, suffered serious head injuries when she was struck by the car in Darwen Road.

It is understood the five pals were walking back from a party at a house nearby when a red Volkswagen Golf flattened a lamppost and crashed into them at about 2.45am yesterday. The four other teenagers were also taken to hospital with various injuries.

One 15-year-old boy was said to be in serious condition, while the others suffered less severe injuries.

A woman, aged 33, who was a passenger in the Golf, was also taken to hospital after having been pulled out of the car by a resident.

Police officers, called to the scene by the Sportsman pub, discovered that the car, which was travelling toward Bromley Cross village, had mounted the pavement and knocked over a lamppost outside the front beer garden area before coming into hitting the teenagers.

Darwen Road was closed between Rose Hill Drive and Clay Street until 8.20am while the emergency services cleared the scene.

A 23-year-old man, believed to be from Darwen, was later arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and was being questioned by police last night.

CCTV footage from the Sportsman, which closed at about midnight, has been handed to police.

A pub spokesman said: “It was only a matter of time before an accident like this happened.

“I think 90 per cent of the residents round here would welcome speed cameras on this part of the road.”

A resident of Darwen Road, who asked not to be named, said: “I was asleep when I heard this loud bang.I looked out and the lamppost was bent double and there was a car tyre in the middle of the road.

“There was a phenomenal amount of people about 40 or 50. The traffic was stopped, there were about 12 cars in the road and everyone got out.”

Any witnesses or anyone who did not speak to police at the scene should call 0161 856 7201 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11.